Competing for Space
The interior is well-engineered and well-executed, but there's no avoiding the fact that there are six seats in a relatively small space. This isn't uncommon, but many models sacrifice space in just the rear seats, while the Mazda5 distributes legroom more evenly. As the table farther down this page reflects, the Mazda5 has less front-seat legroom than the Rondo and a few compact crossovers. The Mazda5's dimensions seem only slightly smaller — 1.1 inches at most compared with seven-seat versions of the Rondo and Toyota RAV4 — but at 6 feet tall I felt more crowded behind the wheel than the specifications suggest.
Lowering the driver's seat also moves it rearward, but I preferred to ride higher to improve forward visibility. (The A-pillars extend pretty far forward, and it's hard to tell where the car's nose ends.) I'm not suggesting I was crowded to an unsafe degree, but it was tight enough that I personally wouldn't invest in a Mazda5. It's a shame, because letting the front seat move a bit farther back would open up the model to more buyers.
See also:
Practicality
Cars almost always make you compromise somewhere, and with a small car that
can be in its practicality. The Mazda2 is no exception. I'm a bigger guy, and
while I didn't feel cramped while driving ...
Ashtray
CAUTION:
Do not use the ashtray for trash. You
might start a fire.
To use, open the cover.
To remove, open the cover and pull up the
ashtray. ...
Convenient Use of the Hands-Free System
qPhone book usage
Phone book registration
Phone numbers can be registered to the
Bluetooth Hands-Free phone book.
NOTE:
Do this function only when parked. It is too
distracting to attempt while ...